Nagaland Police recruitment demands highest transparency and accountability
By Moa Jamir
As Nagaland enters the second week of January, one of the early positive developments has been the ongoing the recruitment process for 1176 posts of Constable (General Duty) under the State Police Department, which began on January 7.
Under the supervision of District Level Screening Committees (DLSCs), the Physical and Medical Standards Tests (PST/PMT) are being conducted across districts until January 13, followed by a written examination on January 20. Candidates who clear these stages will then be called for interviews.
This recruitment drive, however, is more than a routine exercise. It is a litmus test of transparency and accountability, not only for the Nagaland Police, but for governance in Nagaland as a whole.
Since the recruitment was announced on September 30, 2025, the department’s top leadership has repeatedly emphasised transparency. Ahead of the process on January 5, Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, who holds the Home and Border Affairs portfolio, assured that the recruitment would be “transparent and free from backdoor appointments.” The Director General of Police, Rupin Sharma, echoed this assurance, describing transparency and openness as the “biggest insurance” for a free and fair recruitment.
Such assurances are welcome. Yet, what ultimately matters is how these commitments translate on the ground.
It is crucial to recall that the present recruitment exercise itself is a direct consequence of serious lapses in transparency in the recent past. A batch of writ petitions was filed before the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, challenging the appointment of 935 constables in the Nagaland Police between January 2018 and October 2019 made without appointments any public advertisement or widely described as ‘backdoor’ entries.
In its landmark judgment dated September 20, 2024, a single judge quashed all 935 appointments, holding them to be illegal. The court categorically ruled that appointments made without public advertisement violate the fundamental rights, particularly guarantee of equal opportunity in public employment under the Constitution.
Significantly, the court rejected the State’s argument that Rule 20 of the Nagaland Police Manual did not expressly mandate advertisement. Constitutional requirements, the judge ruled, must be “ingrained” into such rules to preserve their validity. This verdict was later upheld by the Supreme Court on January 21, 2025, lending finality to the issue and paving the way for the present recruitment process.
Ordinarily, such judicial pronouncements would be followed by a parallel process of accountability, including questions of administrative and institutional responsibility. In Nagaland, however, the court’s verdict itself came to be seen as a major victory, with little public discussion on accountability for past violations.
That omission should not be repeated.
The ongoing recruitment must not only be transparent but seen to be transparent. While the DLSCs are tasked with executing the process, the pledges made by senior officials must be reflected at every stage. Any attempt, subtle or overt, to undermine fairness, favour individuals, or deny equal opportunity must be met with swift and visible accountability.
Failure to do so would render the entire exercise self-defeating, especially for a department entrusted with upholding law and order. The question of 38 Sub-inspectors, Assistant SI, and UBSI posts also remains.
The responsibility does not rest with the authorities alone. The public, particularly students and aspirants, must remain vigilant. While many are currently occupied with annual events, it is hoped that student bodies’ had deputise representatives to observe and ensure that the recruitment process remains fair, free, and competitive, without interfering with its conduct.
Transparency cannot rest on rhetoric; it must be sustained through accountability, with those entrusted with public authority willing to be held answerable. The current recruitment drive will show whether Nagaland has learnt from past mistakes or is poised to repeat a costly chapter.
For any feedback, drop a line to jamir.moa@gmail.com
